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She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not...
Submitted by doglover on Thu, 07/02/2009 - 11:10am
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“Say it with flowers” may be an advertising slogan that has become trite with repetition, but there is a rich history behind it. The symbolism of flowers is found in every culture, ancient and modern, but the meanings are varied and have become obscured with the passage of time.
Below is a brief outline of flower symbolism:
Carnation: in the United States, carnations have been enshrined as the official flower of Mother’s Day. In China, they are a symbol of marriage.
Chrysanthemum: in Japan, where they are a national symbol (the emperor occupies the "Chrysanthemum Throne") mums bespeak long life, luck, felicity and health. In the West, mums are considered an autumn flower.
Daisy: perhaps because of their plainness, daisies are associated with innocence and simplicity.
Daffodil: since this blossom seems to be everywhere in the spring, it has become, along with the lily, a symbol of Easter. To avoid bad luck, never tread a daffodil under foot.
Hyacinth: while bespeaking prudence and wisdom, hyacinths, like poppies, also have a funereal connotation.
Lilies: in addition to their association with the Virgin Mary, lilies represent repentance in the Christian tradition. They were the heraldic image of the French monarchy.
Lotus: the national flower of India. Because lotus blossoms open in the morning and close again at night, they have come to represent regeneration, revelation and the enlightenment of the spirit. In ancient Egypt, they were used as offerings to the gods.
Poppy: striking a negative note, poppies mean night, sleep and death. This is why they are worn in remembrance of those who gave their lives in World Wars I and II.
Rose: because the rose is a universal favorite, its meanings are more varied and detailed. For love, passion or martyrdom, choose red ones. For happiness, choose pink. For purity and innocence, choose white. And be careful with the yellow ones, for they connote jealousy and infidelity.
Shamrock: while not exactly a flower, the shamrock is the familiar (and official) symbol of Ireland and is associated with a happy-go-lucky spirit.
Sunflower: it’s hard to miss the way sunflowers slavishly seek the sun, and for this reason, they have come to represent devotion on the positive side and silliness and blind infatuation on the negative.
Tulips: another national symbol, tulips were exported from Turkey to Europe in the 16th century. They became extremely popular in the Netherlands where they symbolized beauty and riches but also transience and the vanity of earthly concerns.
Violet: who has not heard of the "shrinking violet?" Violets, from which pansies were cultivated, represent modesty and humility.
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